Student Spotlight: Nitin Agwaral, MIS Candidate 2013

Nitin Agrawal
MIS Candidate 2013
Full-time student

• Industry/Field of work: Analytics, big data, business intelligence, data  warehousing
• Undergraduate degree: Technology
• Undergraduate School: Indian Institute of Technology, BHU, India
• Organizations involved with: INFORMS, Chess, GMARK, GFIN, Association for India’s development, IGSA, Net Impact, Graduate Student Consulting Club, Innovation Incubator
• LinkedIn Profile

What prompted you to return to school to achieve your master’s degree?

To gain expertise in the field of my interest, professional development and networking.

What was the most important factor for you in choosing a MIS program (or factors you considered)?

Faculty, course structure, career prospects, opportunity, general excellence of the University.

Why did you choose UIC Liautaud for your graduate study?

Great faculty, very good career prospects for MIS students, good chances of scholarship, very flexible and up to date course structures and many courses to choose from.

Students pursue graduate school to increase their business knowledge, but since you have started the MIS program, what has been the most unexpected gain the program has given you?

UIC is among the most diverse university in the world, and I have made close friends with so many people who think and live so different than me!

The UIC Liautaud professors are continuously involved in researching new business trends and innovations. How have you felt the professors have been able to integrate their theoretical knowledge into practical applications?

I am impressed by that. For example, Business Data mining course taught by IDS Professor Siddhartha Bhattacharyya is the most up to date and relevant course I found here in UIC. It is also my core interest area.

Which class or professor has been your favorite thus far and why?

IDS 515 Information Systems Strategy & Management course by Professor Ranganathan Chandraskaren. He taught me how to speak and present myself in a professional environment.

What is your favorite aspect of the UIC campus and why?

Diversity, opportunities, the global culture and openness for feedback and dedication of faculty.

How would you define the Liautaud student?

Intelligent, hardworking and diverse.

What advice would you provide to incoming UIC Liautaud students?

One wise man once said to me – there are only two most important choices you get to make in your life. One is the University you choose for your education and second is spouse you choose for life. I have just made my first right choice. A master’s degree is a lifetime investment. Other than learning the courses, you receive tons of opportunities. You meet great students and great professors. It is your choice to make best of time and money you are putting in. So other than maintaining a good GPA, you need to join and be proactive in at least one professional and one self-interest student organization, too. In short, “get involved” and you will make most of it!